MecA

• Description: buffering protein for development, dampens transitions to spore, biofilm exopolysaccharide and competence expression , targets ComK to ClpC-ClpP degradation machine (in log Phase), inhibits the transcriptional activity of Spo0A∼P by direct interaction
  
  

Gene name	mecA
Synonyms
Essential	no
Product	adaptor protein
Function	control of ComK degradation, regulation of competence
Gene expression levels in SubtiExpress: mecA
Interactions involving this protein in SubtInteract: MecA
MW, pI	25 kDa, 4.209
Gene length, protein length	654 bp, 218 aa
Immediate neighbours	yjbE, coiA
Sequences	Protein DNA DNA_with_flanks
Genetic context This image was kindly provided by SubtiList
Expression at a glance   PubMed

Categories containing this gene/protein

genetic competence, proteolysis

The gene

Basic information

• Locus tag: BSU11520

Database entries

• DBTBS entry: [1]

• SubtiList entry: [2]

The protein

Basic information/ Evolution

• Catalyzed reaction/ biological activity:

• Protein family: mecA family (according to Swiss-Prot)

• Paralogous protein(s): YpbH

Extended information on the protein

• Kinetic information:

• Domains:
  • N-terminal domain (1 ... 120): recruitment of protein substrates PubMed
  • C-terminal domain (121 ... 218): facilitates assembly of the ClpC-ClpP oligomer and acts as a degradation tag PubMed

• Modification:

• Cofactor(s):

• Effectors of protein activity:

• Interactions:
  • MecA-ComK PubMed
  • MecA-ComS PubMed
  • ClpC-MecA PubMed
  • MecA-Spo0A PubMed

• Localization:

Database entries

• Structure:
  • 3JTP (C-terminal domain) PubMed
  • 3PXG (the MecA-ClpC complex) PubMed

• UniProt: P37958

• KEGG entry: [3]

• E.C. number:

Expression and regulation

• Operon: mecA PubMed

• Expression browser: mecA PubMed

• Sigma factor: SigA PubMed

• Regulation:

• Regulatory mechanism:

• Additional information:

Biological materials

• Mutant: GP813 (spc), GP814 (aphA3) both available in the Stülke lab

• Expression vector:

• lacZ fusion:

• GFP fusion:

• two-hybrid system:

• Antibody:

References

Reviews

Additional reviews: PubMed

Original Publications

Additonal publications: PubMed

Feng Wang, Ziqing Mei, Yutao Qi, Chuangye Yan, Qi Hu, Jiawei Wang, Yigong Shi
Structure and mechanism of the hexameric MecA-ClpC molecular machine.
Nature: 2011, 471(7338);331-5
[PubMed:21368759] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Feng Wang, Ziqing Mei, Yutao Qi, Chuangye Yan, Siheng Xiang, Zhiyuan Zhou, Qi Hu, Jiawei Wang, Yigong Shi
Crystal structure of the MecA degradation tag.
J Biol Chem: 2009, 284(49);34376-81
[PubMed:19801546] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Ziqing Mei, Feng Wang, Yutao Qi, Zhiyuan Zhou, Qi Hu, Han Li, Jiawei Wu, Yigong Shi
Molecular determinants of MecA as a degradation tag for the ClpCP protease.
J Biol Chem: 2009, 284(49);34366-75
[PubMed:19767395] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Douglas J Kojetin, Patrick D McLaughlin, Richele J Thompson, David Dubnau, Peter Prepiak, Mark Rance, John Cavanagh
Structural and motional contributions of the Bacillus subtilis ClpC N-domain to adaptor protein interactions.
J Mol Biol: 2009, 387(3);639-52
[PubMed:19361434] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (I p)

Kassem Hamze, Daria Julkowska, Sabine Autret, Krzysztof Hinc, Krzysztofa Nagorska, Agnieszka Sekowska, I Barry Holland, Simone J Séror
Identification of genes required for different stages of dendritic swarming in Bacillus subtilis, with a novel role for phrC.
Microbiology (Reading): 2009, 155(Pt 2);398-412
[PubMed:19202088] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Peter Prepiak, David Dubnau
A peptide signal for adapter protein-mediated degradation by the AAA+ protease ClpCP.
Mol Cell: 2007, 26(5);639-47
[PubMed:17560370] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Michiko M Nakano, Shunji Nakano, Peter Zuber
Spx (YjbD), a negative effector of competence in Bacillus subtilis, enhances ClpC-MecA-ComK interaction.
Mol Microbiol: 2002, 44(5);1341-9
[PubMed:12028382] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Randy M Berka, Jeanette Hahn, Mark Albano, Irena Draskovic, Marjan Persuh, Xianju Cui, Alan Sloma, William Widner, David Dubnau
Microarray analysis of the Bacillus subtilis K-state: genome-wide expression changes dependent on ComK.
Mol Microbiol: 2002, 43(5);1331-45
[PubMed:11918817] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

Marjan Persuh, Ines Mandic-Mulec, David Dubnau
A MecA paralog, YpbH, binds ClpC, affecting both competence and sporulation.
J Bacteriol: 2002, 184(8);2310-3
[PubMed:11914365] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

M M Nakano, F Hajarizadeh, Y Zhu, P Zuber
Loss-of-function mutations in yjbD result in ClpX- and ClpP-independent competence development of Bacillus subtilis.
Mol Microbiol: 2001, 42(2);383-94
[PubMed:11703662] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

M Persuh, K Turgay, I Mandic-Mulec, D Dubnau
The N- and C-terminal domains of MecA recognize different partners in the competence molecular switch.
Mol Microbiol: 1999, 33(4);886-94
[PubMed:10447896] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

M Ogura, L Liu, M Lacelle, M M Nakano, P Zuber
Mutational analysis of ComS: evidence for the interaction of ComS and MecA in the regulation of competence development in Bacillus subtilis.
Mol Microbiol: 1999, 32(4);799-812
[PubMed:10361283] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

K Turgay, J Hahn, J Burghoorn, D Dubnau
Competence in Bacillus subtilis is controlled by regulated proteolysis of a transcription factor.
EMBO J: 1998, 17(22);6730-8
[PubMed:9890793] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

T Msadek, V Dartois, F Kunst, M L Herbaud, F Denizot, G Rapoport
ClpP of Bacillus subtilis is required for competence development, motility, degradative enzyme synthesis, growth at high temperature and sporulation.
Mol Microbiol: 1998, 27(5);899-914
[PubMed:9535081] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

K Turgay, L W Hamoen, G Venema, D Dubnau
Biochemical characterization of a molecular switch involving the heat shock protein ClpC, which controls the activity of ComK, the competence transcription factor of Bacillus subtilis.
Genes Dev: 1997, 11(1);119-28
[PubMed:9000055] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

J Hahn, J Bylund, M Haines, M Higgins, D Dubnau
Inactivation of mecA prevents recovery from the competent state and interferes with cell division and the partitioning of nucleoids in Bacillus subtilis.
Mol Microbiol: 1995, 18(4);755-67
[PubMed:8817496] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

J Hahn, L Kong, D Dubnau
The regulation of competence transcription factor synthesis constitutes a critical control point in the regulation of competence in Bacillus subtilis.
J Bacteriol: 1994, 176(18);5753-61
[PubMed:8083167] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

L Kong, D Dubnau
Regulation of competence-specific gene expression by Mec-mediated protein-protein interaction in Bacillus subtilis.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A: 1994, 91(13);5793-7
[PubMed:8016067] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

T Msadek, F Kunst, G Rapoport
MecB of Bacillus subtilis, a member of the ClpC ATPase family, is a pleiotropic regulator controlling competence gene expression and growth at high temperature.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A: 1994, 91(13);5788-92
[PubMed:8016066] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

L Kong, K J Siranosian, A D Grossman, D Dubnau
Sequence and properties of mecA, a negative regulator of genetic competence in Bacillus subtilis.
Mol Microbiol: 1993, 9(2);365-73
[PubMed:8412687] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)

M Roggiani, J Hahn, D Dubnau
Suppression of early competence mutations in Bacillus subtilis by mec mutations.
J Bacteriol: 1990, 172(7);4056-63
[PubMed:2113920] [WorldCat.org] [DOI] (P p)